wire
gb/wˈaɪɚ/ us/wˈaɪɚ/
A2
English
~ 3000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Thin flexible strand of metal
A long, thin piece of metal that bends easily and can carry electricity.
Usage pattern:
[something] made of wire
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wire' with 'cord' or 'rope', but 'wire' is always metal.
Synonyms
cable (Thicker and usually made of multiple wires twisted together.)
Antonyms
cordless (Describes devices that do not require wires for operation.)
Collocations
electric wire
|barbed wire
|copper wire
|steel wire
|wire fence
Themes
technology
|construction
|daily life
|science
Examples
- The electrician replaced the old copper wire.
- Barbed wire was stretched across the top of the fence.
- She twisted the ends of the wire together to secure the frame.
- The sculpture was made entirely from thin steel wire.
Learner examples
- The lamp has a long wire.
- I cut the wire with scissors.
- The bird sat on a wire.
- We need more wire for the project.
Verb
B1
action
2
Send money or info electronically
To send money or information using electronic systems.
Usage pattern:
to wire [money/information] to [someone/somewhere]
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'wire' always means physical wires; in this meaning it is about electronic transfer.
Synonyms
transfer (General term for moving money or data; 'wire' implies electronic systems.)
Antonyms
withdraw (To take money out rather than sending it.)
Collocations
wire money
|wire funds
|wire payment
Themes
business
|technology
|finance
|communication
Examples
- She wired the payment to his bank account.
- The company wired the funds immediately after signing the contract.
- He wired me the details of the meeting.
Learner examples
- I will wire the money to you.
- They wired the news to us quickly.
- She wired $500 to her family.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Hidden listening device
A small device hidden on a person to secretly record what they say.
Usage pattern:
to wear a wire
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'wire' in this sense with normal electrical wire; here it means a secret recording device.
Synonyms
bug (Informal term for any hidden listening device; 'wire' often refers to one worn on a person.)
Collocations
wear a wire
|plant a wire
Themes
law
|crime
|technology
Examples
- The undercover agent was wearing a wire during the meeting.
- They planted a wire in the suspect's office.
- He refused to wear a wire against his friend.
Learner examples
- The police gave him a wire to wear.
- She wore a wire to catch the thief.
- He put on a wire before talking to them.
Verb
technical
B1
action
4
Connect with electrical wiring
To connect something with wires so electricity can flow.
Usage pattern:
to wire [a building/device] for [purpose]
Synonyms
connect (General term; 'wire' refers specifically to using wires for connection.)
Collocations
wire a house
|wire up a circuit
Themes
technology
|construction
|work
Examples
- They wired the house for internet access.
- The technician wired the alarm system into the main power supply.
- We need to wire the new light fixture.
Learner examples
- The man wired the new lamp.
- He wired the computer to the network.
- They wired the room for sound.
Grammar
Dictionary form
wire
IPA
GB/wˈaɪɚ/
US/wˈaɪɚ/
Syllables & stress
wire (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wire)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: wire
- Plural: wire, wires
Verb
- Base: wire
- 3rd Person Singular: wires
- Present Participle: wiring
- Past: wired
Word family
Forms
wires
noun
wiring
verb
wired
verb
Negative and opposite forms
wireless
adjective A2
Expressions
down to the wire
1/dˈaʊn tə ðə wˈaɪɚ/
idiom
informal
Until the very last moment
When something continues until the last possible moment before it ends or is decided.
Examples
- The game went down to the wire, ending in overtime.
- Negotiations went down to the wire before an agreement was reached.
hard-wired
1/hˈɑɹd wˈaɪɚd/
fixed phrase
Built-in and fixed physically
Something that is built into a system or machine and cannot be changed without changing the hardware.
Examples
- The smoke detector is hard-wired into the house's power supply.
- Some behaviors are hard-wired into our brains.
tripwire
1/tɹˈɪpwˌɚ/
fixed phrase
Wire that triggers action when touched
A thin wire that causes something to happen when someone touches or moves it, often used in traps or alarms.
Examples
- The soldier spotted a tripwire across the path.
- A tripwire set off the alarm as soon as he entered.
wear a wire
1/wˈɛɹ ə wˈaɪɚ/
fixed phrase
Secretly record with hidden mic on body
To secretly record what people say by hiding a small microphone on your body.
Examples
- The agent agreed to wear a wire to gather evidence.
- He was caught because his friend was wearing a wire.